Vice President Venkaiah Naidu’s 9-day tour of Gabon, Senegal and Qatar successfully concluded on Tuesday, with his returning to India later in the evening. While his tour to Gabon and Senegal were the first high level visits from India, his visit to Qatar was the first by any Indian Vice President. During the visits, he had wide ranging discussions with top leadership in each country.
Naidu also interacted with the business fraternity and the Indian community in all three countries at receptions held in his honour in the capital cities of Libreville, Dakar and Doha.
He addressed the Indian diaspora community in Qatar in Doha and applauded the efforts of all Indian diaspora, saying “the success of each one of you and other members of the overseas Indian family has dramatically changed the world’s perception of Indians and India”.
He said the “the 7.80 lakh strong Indian community in Qatar is a living bridge between the two countries”. Naidu observed that there has been a deepening of the relations between India and Qatar, pointing out to the highest ever bilateral trade of over US$ 15 billion last year.
He also noted that over 50 wholly-owned Indian companies are located in Qatar in diverse fields such as infrastructure, information technology, and energy and the 15,000 jointly owned companies are adding momentum to the India-Qatar economic partnership.
Noting that India and Qatar will mark the 50th anniversary of establishing full diplomatic relations next year, Naidu said that “the countries are building a “comprehensive energy partnership. Cooperation between India and Qatar is also expanding in defence, security, healthcare and education sectors”.
He further recalled that both sides agreed in principle to establish an Indian Chair at Qatar University and to pursue cooperation in the fields of sports and culture. He also referred to the launch of a start-up bridge between India and Qatar the previous day as an instance of the growing ties between the countries.
Naidu called upon the diaspora community to participate in the India growth story and “maintain a link with the Janma Bhoomi”. In his message to the Indian youth going abroad, the Vice President asked them to ‘learn, earn and return’ to share prosperity with their motherland. “Each of you can contribute to the rapid socio-economic development and transformation happening in India. We can immensely gain from the skills and talents of the diaspora. Explore how you can also join in the national efforts to make a difference in the lives of fellow Indians”, he said. He also wanted the Indians living abroad to preserve and protect their mother tongue
